Lateral-drive speed transformer



Dec. 3, 1929. 1.. E. e. BUEHLER LATERAL DRIVE SPEED TRANSFORMER Filed Aug. 27. 1926 x 10 Infant; [010$ fileZ/ei' Patented Dec. 3, 1929 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS E. G. BUEHLER, F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS LATERAL-DRIVE SPEED TRANSFORMER Application filed August 27, 1928. Serial No. 131,935.

This invention relates to improvements in speed transformers and has for its object to provide means for efiiciently effecting lubrication of all working parts in such a .manner as to preclude resistance to operation due to complete immersion of the majority of-such elements in oil as heretofore practiced in the operation of this type of devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide means adapted to promote efficient lubrication which will serve also to provide a support for a bearing for one of the main shafts of the device.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows a central vertical section of a vertical shaft speed transformer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a View in elevation of a gear pump employed.

The present invention relates particularly to speed transformers of the type wherein all of the moving gear elements (except that carried by the high speed shaft) and the low speed shaft, rotate on vertical axes.

This type of speed transformer is used largely for transmitting power or motion from line shafting or the like on one floor of a factory to line shafting or machinery on another floor.

In devices of this character, it is common practice to house the working parts and utilize the housing as an oil reservoir to contain usually, a level of lubricant extending to or above the top-most working element of the mechanism. This effects complete submersion of all of the lower elements in the oil and such complete submersion, especially as regards the elements operating at considerable speed, creates a degree of resistance to operation which is quite appreciable and very undesirable from an economic standpoint especially because of heating and consequent more rapid consumption of the lubricant.

The invention, it will be understood, is not limited to the particular gear structure illustrated, the latter being merely exemplary of a speed transformer of the vertical type to which the invention is adapted.

The device illustrated includes the casing 1 provided with a base 2 adapted to be bolted to the floor or other supporting element. The casing 1 is cylindrical and is provided at opposite ends with axial bearings 3 and 4:, the low-speed-shaft 5 being journalled in the latter.

At one side and adjacent the upper end of the casing 1 is the bearing 6 for the highspeed or drive shaft 7 which carries the bevel pinion 8 at its inner end. The latter meshes with the bevel gear 9 mounted on the shaft 10 which is, at its upper end, journalled in the bearing 3 and, between its ends in the bearing 11 carried at the center of the partition wall 12 which divides the casing 1 into an upper. chamber 13 and a lower chamber 14. Disposed in the latter and rigid with the casing 1 is an internal spur gear 15 with which several planetary gear pinions 16 mesh, the latter being carried by the studshafts 17 of the carrier plates 18 and 19 and meshing also with the spur pinion 20 at the lower end of the shaft 10.

It will be noted that the plate 19 has a beveled edge 21 the function of which will be hereinafter pointed out.

The low speed shaft 5 may be directly or indirectly associated with the plate 19 but in the instance illustrated it is directly associated therewith, this association being varied according to the degree of speed reduction to be effected between the drive shaft 7 and said shaft 5. To emphasize the advantages of the present invention the triple type speed reduction is shown in preference to the simpler type.

Thus the plate 19 is rigid with the studshaft 21 which carries the spur-pinion 22 meshing with planetary gears 23 mounted on the carrier 24: rigid with the shaft 5. The planetary gears 23 mesh with the internal gear 25 rigid with the casing 1.

Description of the gear train shown and described is deemed unnecessary and description of certain structural details concerning the gear train is also omitted as unnecessary.

The upper portion of the casing 1, of which the partition wall 12 forms an integral part, is provided at diametrically opposite sides with formations for engaging the removable bearing 6 for the shaft 7 to permit interchange of said bearing with the bearing 26 for the shaft 27 of the bevel gear 28 meshing with the bevel gear 9. Shaft 27 carries the sprocket-wheel 29 over which and a sprocket wheel 30, the sprocket chain 31 is trained. The sprocket whee-130 is mounted on the shaft 32 journalled in a bearing of the casing 33 of the gear-pump which is secured to the lower chamber l'et'of the latter at a point below the normal oil level. in the latter. The discharge port 34: of the pump casing is connected with the duct 35 in the wall ofthe casing 1 which discharges into the compartment 13. Drain openings 36 in the middle portion'of the wall 12 serve to limit the oil level in said upper chamber and cause a constant flow of oil upon the plate 18 which is provided with recesses 37 around the bearings forthe trunnions of the planetary gears 16 for lubricating the latter, the drippings from the circumferential edge of the plate 18 upon the planetary gears and plate 19 serving to effect distribution of the oil to feed the lower trunnion bearings for :the planetary gears 16 and the gear teeth of the latter and the elements with which they mesh.

It will be understood, of course, that if the bearings for shafts 7 and 27 are interchanged, the pump casing willbe disposed accordingly and likewise the ducts forthe flow of oil.

The oil level in the upper chamber of the r casing is just high enough to permit the bevel pinions 8 and 28 to pick up and carry .oilzto.

[the intermeshing gear faces and, also, to cause the bearings 6 and 11 to receive'lubricant, the bearing 26 being fed by drippings from the gear 28.

The intake port 38 for the pump'casing 33 is preferably disposed just above the top of the lower planetary gearset, the very slow rotation of the latter permitting its complete submersion in oil without creating appreciable resistance to rotation ofthe rotating gear elements of said set.

An advantage of maintaining a comparatively shallow body of oil in the lower end of the casing 1 is that the hydrostatic head of said body is so small that it occasions less leakage through the bearing for the low- -speed shaft 5, such leakage as occurs being "caught by the cup 39 on the shaft 5 from whichit is drained at intervals by removal of the plug 40.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a speed transformer of the type specitied, a casing provided between its upper and lower ends with a partition wall constitutmg a bear1ng,-gear1ng dlsposed above and 7 below said wall being respectively adapted to contain a given level of oil, a circulating device adapted to transfer oil from the lower to the upper portion of said casing, there being drip openings in said Wall arranged to drip oil upon parts in the lower portion of the casing requiring lubrication and arranged above :the level of the oil therein and for maintaining a given level of oil in the upper portion ofcsaid casing above the highest point in said bearing for permitting flow into the latter, the gearing in the upper portion of said casing including elements proecting below the normal level of oil therein for carrying the same to coasting gear elements.

2. In a speed'transformer of the type-specisaid wall a vertical shaft journalled in said bearing and associating the gearing above with the gearing below saidwall, an oil circulating pump on said casing, an intake port for :the same communicating .with the lower portion of said casing at a point above thelevel of the lowest gearielements therein, a discharge port for said pump abovesaid wall, there being an opening in the latter arranged to maintain anormal level of oil in a the .upper chamber above the top .of said bearing and cause oil to drip upon the higher gear elements in the lower portion of said casing, the gearing 1n the upper portionbf -SL1Cl casing including elements projecting below the normal level of Oil therein for carrying the same to coactlng gear elements.

LOUIS E. G; BUEHLER.

too

in said bearing and associating the gearing above with the gearing below said wall, the

portions of said casing disposed above and 

